Nobles County MN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XXI Dundee, Lismore, Kinbrae, Reading, St. Kilian, Leota, Org 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 18, 2006, 2:40 pm Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County CHAPTER XXI. DUNDEE, LISMORE, KINBRAE, READING, ST. KILIAN, LEOTA, ORG. DUNDEE. Many of the towns of Nobles county have their location just within the county's boundary lines, and as a result the territory from which they draw trade is extended on all four sides beyond the county's confines. But in no case did any town come nearer getting outside the county than did Dundee, which is in the extreme northeastern corner, the boundary lines of Murray and Jackson counties defining the town's corporate limits on two sides. Dundee, located on section one, Graham Lakes township, is a station on the Pipestone branch of the Omaha railroad and is eight miles northwest from Heron Lake. From its old time rival, Kinbrae, which is on the Milwaukee road, it is only a mile and a half. The town had a population of 182 in 1905. All lines of business usually represented in villages of the size are to be found, including a bank, department store, hardware store, hotel, lumber yard, elevators, meat market, blacksmith shop, livery barn, saloons, barber shop, etc. It was during the summer of 1879 that the land upon which Dundee was afterwards built was selected as a site for a town. The Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company was then building what was at the time known as the Heron Lake & Black Hills railroad, and its first station out from the eastern terminus was located on that part of the road which ran through the northeastern corner of Nobles county. Warren was the name first applied to the station, given in honor of the immortal Joseph Warren, who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill. Early in August the railroad company began the erection of a depot, and on the thirteenth of that month surveyors laid out the town. While the town was surveyed in 1879 the earliest plat of record in the office of the register of deeds is dated 1891. It was surveyed by B. W. Woolstencroft for F. D. Lindquist and H. A. Scherlie, was dedicated July 31, 1891, and filed August 3. [1] Great rivalry existed between the Sioux City & St. Paul and the Southern Minnesota railroads at the time of the building of their respective lines, as has been related in a previous chapter, and each corporation determined to build the better town in northeastern Nobles county, the Southern Minnesota founding Airlie (Kinbrae) and the Sioux City & St. Paul the station of Warren. [2] The depot at the latter place was completed about the first of September, and the company at once began the erection of a cottage, which was completed a little later. [3] G. Foils moved to the station and became the first agent. A postoffice was established about the first of November, of which Mr. Foils became the postmaster. The office was named Dundee, after the city in Scotland, and thereafter the place was known by that name. Preparations were made for the establishment of a few lines of business. The station agent became a lumber dealer, and a store building was erected, which was expected soon to be occupied. In the spring of 1880 F. D. Ldndquist and H. A. Scherlie opened a store. Only a few other business houses were established in the little town in the early days, and its growth for many years was very slow. Until the arrival of the prosperous times of the middle nineties Dundee was only a little trading point, represented by a very few lines of business. Then came the revival of business all over the country and the appreciation of Nobles county land values, and Dundee, in common with all the towns of Nobles county, took a new lease of life. By the first of the year 1898 the town had made such progress that incorporation was deemed advisable. A census taken December 23, 1897, gave the village a population of 187. The citizens of Dundee then petitioned for the incorporation of 1,244 acres of land, [4] and on January 4, 1898, the board of county commissioners granted the petition and named February 15 as the date for holding a special election to vote on the question. W. A. Fields, G. B. Miller and P. H. Randall were named inspectors. By a vote of 35 to 2 the electors decided to incorporate, and on March 8 another special election, presided over by C. W. Aldrich and P. H. Randall as judges and C. P. Swanson as clerk, was held, when the first village officers were chosen. The council met for the first time March 11, 1898. The results of the several village elections since incorporation are as follows: 1898—President, F. D. Lindquist; trustees, A. R. Schmidt, R. F. Laythe, E. F. Fricke; recorder, C. P. Swanson; treasurer, B. N. Bodelson; justices, J. H. Johnson, G. B. Miller; constables, P. H. Randall, E. H. Sammons. 1899—President, F. D. Lindquist; trustees, E. F. Fricke, A. R. Schmidt, Sigman Rupp; recorder, C. P. Swanson; treasurer, B. N. Bodelson; justice, P. B. Herman; constable, E. J. Sangreen. 1900-President, G. B. Miller; trustees, E. S. Humble, A. R. Schmidt, R. O. Morrison; recorder, P. B. Herman; treasurer, B. N. Bodelson; assessor, W. J. Drake; justice, G. B. Miller; constable, W. P. Jones. 1901—President, G. B. Miller; trustees, J. H. Johnson, Theodore Hawkins, J. H. Kane; recorder, P. B. Herman; treasurer, F. D. Lindquist; assessor, W. J. Drake; justice, P. B. Herman; constable, H. A. Crosby. 1902—President, V. I. Miller; trustees, R. O. Morrison, Theodore Hawkins, A. R. Schmidt; recorder, Charles Hamstreet; treasurer, J. H. Johnson; assessor, W. P. Jones; justices, Charles Hamstreet, O. E. Randall; constable, W. P. Jones. 1903—President, B. N. Bodelson; trustees, F. A. Pasco, A. R. Schmidt, S. H. Brown; recorder, E. S. Humble; treasurer, J. H. Johnson; assessor, Andrew Reuse; justices, C. M. Atwood, James McDonald; constables, W. P. Jones, H. A. Crosby. 1904—President, B. N. Bodelson; trustees, A. R. Schmidt, Haken Johnson, Martin Deutchman; recorder, C. M. Atwood; treasurer, J. H. Johnson; assessor, Andrew Reuse; justice, N. A. Dexter; constables, Andrew Reuse, W. N. Johnson. 1905—President, William Guthier; trustees, Theodore Hawkins, H. A. Crosby, F. J. Knott; recorder, C. M. Atwood; treasurer, J. H. Johnson; justice, E. H. Sammons; constable, Andrew Reuse. 1906—President, F. D. Lindquist; trustees, A. R. Schmidt, O. H. Johnson, S. H. Nelson; recorder, C. M. Atwood; treasurer, J. H. Johnson; justice, Elmer Johnson; constable, O. H. Johnson. 1907—President, F. D. Lindquist; trustees, S. H. Nelson, A. R. Schmidt, Ole Johnson; recorder, C. M. Atwood; treasurer, J. H. Johnson; justice, Elmer Johnson; constable, O. H. Johnson. 1908—President, F. D. Lindquist; trustees, A. R. Schmidt, Ole Johnson, George Torkelson; recorder, C. M. Atwood; treasurer, J. H. Johnson; assessor, T. B. Maguire; justices, C. S. Jones, M. A. Arens; constable, A. Torkelson. There were prosperous years following the beginning of municipal life, and in 1900 the federal census showed a population of 217, giving Dundee sixth place among Nobles county towns. Then followed the period when many of the precincts showed a decrease in population, and in 1905 the census figure was 182. One hundred four of these were born in Minnesota, 36 in other parts of the United States, and 42 in foreign countries. Of the foreign born Germany furnished 8; Sweden, 18; Norway, 3; Ireland, 1; Denmark, 2; England, 2; Scotland, 2; Austria, 4; other countries, 2. Dundee maintains one of the best schools to be found in the smaller villages of the county, presided over by Prof. C. S. Jones. The town supports several church organizations, all of which are in a prosperous condition. LISMORE. Of Nobles county's eleven incorporated villages Lismore is the youngest. It is a town of 181 inhabitants, located on the Rock Island railroad and on section one, of Lismore township. Portions of Leota, Willmont, Larkin and Lismore townships comprise its trade territory, which, in my judgment, is the finest and most prosperous part of Nobles county, excepting that surrounding the village of Ellsworth. The village itself is prosperous and enjoys an excellent trade. It is built mostly of wood, but the buildings are all permanent and substantial structures. Lismore was founded as a direct result of the building of the Burlington railroad, now operated as the Rock Island, through northwestern Nobles county, and came into existence during the summer of 1900. The road had been constructed a part of the distance it now covers during the fall and winter of 1899 and the towns of Reading and Wilmont, on the same railroad, had been founded. The work of laying the track was again taken up in the spring of 1900, and the road reached the site of the present town of Lismore at three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, June 9. Immediately thereafter was commenced the building of the town. The story of the selection of the site of Lismore is an interesting one. To Emil Graf and Charles Rieckoff, more than any others, belong the credit for the existence of the town. When Thomas Brown, the Burlington right-of-way man, was in the vicinity purchasing lands for the road's right-of-way and locating his townsites he stopped one night at the farm home of Emil Graf, situated some two or three miles northeast of the future town of Lismore. The settlers of the vicinity, who for so many years had been such a long ways from market, were anxious to have a town builded nearby. So they inquired from Mr. Brown the company's intentions relative to the location of townsites on the new road. That official stated that his instructions were to locate only one town between Wilmont and the junction of the road. Such a decision meant that the proposed town would be built some three miles further west. But the surveyors; who were then in the field, were having trouble running their lines and getting the grade they wanted. By making a detour to the south it was found that a good grade could be secured, although the mileage would be increased. This course was finally selected, and the lengthening of the road made possible the location of two townsites. Mr. Brown decided that one site could be selected in the vicinity, and Messrs. Graf and Rieckoff suggested the southwest quarter of section 1, Lismore township, as a site. Mr. Brown agreed to locate the town there if the land could be bought for $30 per acre, and he, accompanied by the two gentlemen who were interesting themselves in the matter, went to see Clarence Swanman, the owner. That gentleman promptly demanded $35 per acre for the quarter. The Burlington agent refused to consider the purchase at that price, and negotiations ceased. Messrs. Graf and Rieckoff were determined to have the new town in the vicinity, and to raise money for the extra $800 demanded they scoured the country for subscriptions to a fund. They were successful; in raising the money, and under an agreement with Mr. Brown turned the cash over to that gentleman when the Lismore depot was completed. The property had been bought, by Mr. Brown in the latter part of March. [5] The question of a name for the village then arose. Several names were, suggested, among others, that of Graf, in honor of the pioneer settler of the vicinity. Mr. Graf would not consent to be thus honored, and the name Lismore was finally chosen by Mr. Brown, named after the township. The township, had been, named after a town in Ireland. County Surveyor Milton S. Smith surveyed the townsite April 23, 24 and 25, 1900; the dedication was made July 23; the papers were filed, in the office of the register of deeds July 25. [6] After the coming of the railroad in June it was not long before the building of the town was under way, and in July the first business houses were opened. The St. Croix Lumber company was the first on the site. Lumber had been hauled from Wilmont and piled on the ground. A sign on the same gave forth the information that it was a lumber yard. This enterprise was immediately followed by others, and before the close of the year quite a little town had taken its place on the prairie. James Beacom erected the first building in the town— now the Leader office—and opened a saloon. The second building completed was the O. B. Bratager store building, and that gentleman opened his store on July 6. James Montgomery built a small elevator and a little dwelling. William Finley was installed as manager of the elevator and occupied the house. Mr. Montgomery also engaged in the lumber business. James S. Ramage opened a lumber yard and hardware store, which were under the management of Arch Priest. The Bank of Lismore opened its doors on September 1, its temporary home being in a lumber yard. Three months later the bank was incorporated as the State Bank of Lismore. Other business enterprises established in 1900 were a livery barn by Anton Halverson, a butcher shop and restaurant by Joseph Stadter, and a blacksmith shop by Andrew Peters. A number of residences were also erected during the year, and all the buildings of the new town were of a permanent character. The Lismore post-office was established September 22 with O. B. Bratager as postmaster, and that gentleman has since had charge of the office. During 1901 there was a resumption of building operations in Lismore, and the town received many additions to its business life. A school house, churches and several fine residences were built during the year. On December 6, 1901, the Lismore Leader said: Lismore, for a place only a little over one year old, has made good and substantial growth. . . . Lismore has one bank, two general merchants, one furniture store, two saloons, two pool rooms, two lumber yards, three elevators, four coal dealers, one hotel, one hardware store, two machinery firms, one blacksmith shop, one livery stable, one dray line and one newspaper. A census taken April 10, 1902, showed the new village to have a population of 186. After 1901 the growth of Lismore was slow. That year it reached a size proportionate to the trade of the surrounding country. While there has not been increase in population, each year has witnessed improvement in Lismore, and there is yearly increase in the amount of business done. Lismore was incorporated in the spring of 1902. [7] Emil Graf, Jacob Hendel and Henry Rust were the inspectors of the first election, which was held May 27. Of the thirty-seven votes cast at that time, twenty-three were in favor of incorporation and fourteen were opposed. The town's first officers were chosen June 17, and that same evening the council met and set in motion the machinery of municipal government. Following is a list of those who have been elected to office during Lismore's political history: [8] 1902—President, Emil Graf; trustees, O. B. Bratager, Frank Hennekes, John Roelofs; recorder, C. N. Sawyer; treasurer, F. J. Forkenbrock; justices, R. W. Frank, William Finley; constables, Fred McVenes, John Duel. 1903—President, Emil Graf; trustees, O. B. Bratager, Fred McVenes, M. Plemp; recorder, C. N. Sawyer; treasurer, F. J. Forkenbrock; assessor, F. W. Vaughan; justice, A. Peters; constable, W. Duwenhoegger; street commissioner, John Duel. 1904—President, Emil Graf; trustees, M. Plemp, William Tentler, A. N. Disch; recorder, R. W. Frank; treasurer, F. J. Forkenbrock; assessor, William Finley; justices, William Finley, C. E. Hargrow; constables, W. Duwenhoegger, D. Roelofs. 1905—President, Emil Graf; trustees, William Tentler, J. A. Greig, M. Plemp; recorder, W. V. Olin; treasurer, John Roelofs; assessor, William Higgins; justices, C. A. Manning, Fred McVenes; constables, George Greig, Fred McVenes. 1906—President, William Tentler; [9] trustees A. J. Greig, John Glovka, M. Plemp; recorder, W. H. Hronek; treasurer, John Roelofs; assessor, William Higgins; justices, L. A. Dickman, O. B. Bratager; constables, Joe Budde, Henry Glovka. 1907—President, William Tentler; trustees, Al. Greig, J. J. Bach, L. A. Dickman; recorder, Emil Graf; treasurer, John Roelofs; assessor, William Higgins; justices, J. E. West, Adolph Miller; constables, Nic Bach, William Higgins. 1908—President, William Tentler; trustees, J. J. Bach, L. A. Dickman, Al. Greig; recorder, Nic Barron; treasurer, M. Plemp; assessor, William Higgins; justice, George Cutler; constable, Jacob Hofer. Lismore's population, according to the 1905 census, was 181, of which 83 were native born, 71 Minnesota born, and 27 foreign born. Of the last named the countries of birth were Germany, 14; Norway, 7; Ireland, 1; England, 1; other countries, 4. The town has a good school and a number of church organizations. KINBRAE. Although one of the oldest, Kinbrae is the smallest of Nobles county's incorporated villages. One hundred eleven people had their homes there when the last census was taken. It is located on section 11, Graham Lakes township, on the Milwaukee railroad, and is only a mile and a half from Dundee, its rival town on the Pipestone branch of the Omaha road. The business town consists of a few stores, elevators and shops, which draw their trade from the immediate country surrounding. Time was when Kinbrae was a larger and much more prosperous village than it now is. For years it held its own with the rival town of Dundee, and for a time was the better village of the two. All lines of business flourished and a big trade was catered to. But Dundee won out in the race for supremacy in northeastern Nobles county. While there has been a retrogression since the boom days of the nineties, Kinbrae still holds its place as a little trading point, and time may bring back its former prosperous days. The jealous rivalry of two railroad corporations was responsible for the founding of two towns, so close together, and the towns have been the sufferers ever since. When the line of the Southern Minnesota railroad (now the Milwaukee) was definitely located in the spring of 1879, speculation was rife as to the location of the towns that would be built on it. A correspondent writing to the Worthington Advance of May 8, 1879, gives us the first information of the selection of the site on Clear lake for one of the towns. "Our Graham Lakes correspondent," says the Advance of that date, "gives further information concerning the road. The line passes about one-half mile north of East Graham lake and one-fourth mile north of Creswell. The contract for grading to Clear lake has been let, and the contract to Seven-Mile lake will be let in a few days. We learn that the company design building up quite a town at Clear lake, and another at the south end of Heron lake." Nothing further is learned of the proposed town on Clear lake from the public prints until late in the summer. Then it is learned that a Scotch company has been formed for the purpose of founding the town, which is to be called Airlie. A company which has purchased a tract of land, in the vicinity, it is announced, will make many improvements and start the town with a heavy expenditure of money. B. W. Woolstencroft, who resided there at the time, wrote of the current events early in September as follows: Our town [Graham Lakes] has the advantage of two railroads now and two railroad towns, viz: Airlie and Warren. "Airlie" (named for the Right Honorable, the earl of Airlie, K. T., president of the Dundee Land and Improvement company, N. B., owner of the Clear lake townsite, inclosing with its annexed farm 400 acres of land) is situated on the southwest bank of Clear lake, one of the most beautiful sheets of water in Minnesota. Mr. Easton informed us that the company intended to build a $10,000 steam elevator, a three story hotel, and that $15,000 was placed at his disposal for the above purpose, together with the improvements of streets, planting trees, etc. Plowing for tree planting has already begun. On Friday the 29th a number of gentlemen and their ladies came up on the train to view the place and were decidedly pleased with the situation. Among those present we will mention John Cusson, of Glenallen, Virginia; Prof. S. W. Johnson, wife and daughter, Yale colege, Hartford, Connecticut; H. M. Blaisdell and wife, P. Walarton and wife, J. M. Farrar, of Fairmont; J. C. Easton and wife, L. F. Easton, of Lanesboro. The Dundee Improvement company was the name of the corporation which contemplated doing so much to start the town of Airlie. During September and October the company started a number of improvements, and a few private enterprises were launched. The large steam elevator, with a capacity of 15,000 bushels, was completed in November. Before the close of the year, a hotel building had been erected by the company and a two story store building, 22x50 feet, had been put up by the same people. John Paul, of LaCrosse, Wis., opened a lumber yard, which was under the management of Ole Dahl, and E. B. Hollister opened a drug store. [10] While Airlie had been the name first selected for the site, when the townsite was surveyed during the month of December, 1879, it was as DeForest, and that became also the name of the railroad station. W. O. Keller surveyed the DeForest townsite for John Paton, John B. Dumont, William Lowson and William Mackenzie. The site was dedicated April 6, 1880, [11] and the instrument was filed May 31. [12] A petition for the establishment of a postoffice had been sent in to the authorities at an early date, with the request that it be named Airlie, and when the postoffice was granted early in 1880 with Nat Smith as postmaster, that was its name. The name was changed to DeForest to correspond with the name of the townsite and station, in the latter part of January, 1882. While there had been a few enterprises started in the little town of Airlie, or DeForest, during 1879 and early in 1880, there had been no rush to the new town, and the federal census of 1880 (June 1) showed a population of only 19. A depot was put up in the fall of that year and a young man named Isal was installed as agent. So we find that during the first few years of its existence DeForest was a very small hamlet. What town there was came near being wiped out by a fire on April 20, 1883, at which time the large elevator, together with its contents, was destroyed. Only by the greatest effort on the part of the citizens was the depot saved. In August, 1883, the name of the DeForest station was changed to Kinbrae. For a time thereafter the postoffice and townsite were known under the old name, but later these were changed. [13] The Scotch company that founded Kinbrae soon ceased its labors in the little town, and the townsite passed into the hands of Hanson & Graeger, of Chicago. During the eighties not much progress was made in Kinbrae, although a few business enterprises were started during that decade. When the Kinbrae Herald was issued for the first time on September 20, 1894, its editor claimed a population of 150 for the town. There were then the following industries: Two general stores, one hardware store, one lumber yard, one blacksmith shop,, one stock buyer, two grain, elevators, one hotel, a postoffice, depot, newspaper, millinery store, Presbyterian church and a school. In 1895 W. N. Bickley and W. E. Fletcher purchased the townsite and made preparations to boom the town, and Kinbrae advanced with rapid strides. These gentlemen employed M. S. Smith to resurvey the townsite in May, 1896. The site was dedicated Dec. 23, 1896, and the plat was filed Jan. 4, 1897. [14] Building improvements during 1896 amounted to $13,000. Among the new enterprises started were a bank, creamery, elevator, stores, and a Methodist church. A census taken December 7, 1895, gave the town a population of 178, and during the following year Kinbrae attained the height of its prosperity. A petition asking the board of county commissioners to provide for the incorporation of the village of DeForest as platted and recorded in the office of the register of deeds, containing 640 acres, was presented; also a request that the name of the corporation should be Kinbrae was made. [15] The board took the required action early in the year and named February 17, 1896, as the date for holding an election to decide the question. The election was held at Jackson's hall and was presided over by T. E. Cole, Charles Hamstreet and Nels Holm. Thirty-five votes were cast, of which 28 were favorable to incorporation and 7 were opposed. The election to select the first village officers was held at the office of the Kinbrae Herald March 10, 1896. Charles Hamstreet and L. E. Miller were the judges and J. A. Salomonson was the clerk of election. Thirty-seven votes were cast. Following was the result of that and each subsequent election held in the village: 1896—President, L. F. Miller; trustees, T. E. Joubert, K. C. Jackson, Joseph Hendy; recorder, A. E. Holmberg; treasurer, T. E. Cole; justices, J. A. Salomonson, E. L. Cochran; constables, O. A. Anderson, T. J. Larkin. 1897—President, L. F. Miller; trustees, K. C. Jackson, S. H. McMaster, W. N. Bickley; recorder, J. A. Salomonson; treasurer, T. E. Cole; constables, J. J. Nimerfroh, Charles Williams. 1898—President, S. W. Laythe; trustees, K. C. Jackson, E. M. Trenkley, T, E. Joubert; recorder, Charles Hamstreet; treasurer, T. E. Cole; justices, J. A. Salomonson, F. P. Wilson; constables, F. D. Richards, J. J. Nimerfroh. 1899—President, E. M. Trenkley; trustees, W. N. Bickley, F. T. Winkler, C. A, Swanson; recorder, Charles Hamstreet; treasurer, S. W. Laythe; justices, E. J. Clark, J. A. Salomonson; constables, F. D. Richards, Ernest Jones. [16] 1900—President, Burgess Jones; trustees, K. C. Jackson, L. F. Miller, W. N Bickley; recorder, J. H. Clemons; treasurer, S. W. Laythe; justices, J. H. Clemons, Solomon Johnson; constables, Nicholas Paulus, F. D. Richards. 1901—President, S. H. McMaster; trustees, T. E. Joubert, F. E. Ridgeway, Solomon Johnson; recorder, H. W. Pinney; treasurer, W. H. Sanders; justices, H. Brigger, George Golden; constable, Vince Nimerfroh. 1902—President, L. F. Miller; trustees, F. E. Ridgeway, Charles Muck, August Johnson; recorder, J. E. Bailey; treasurer, W. H. Sanders; justices, J. E. Bailey, Joseph Stone; constables, Vince Nimerfroh, George Golden. 1903—President, L. F. Miller; trustees, F. E. Ridgeway, August Johnson, C. E. Fletcher; recorder, J. E. Bailey; treasurer, W. H. Sanders; justices, V. M. Lord, C. S. Muck; constables, F. D. Richards, O. J. Swanson. 1904—President, L. F. Miller; trustees, M. McGlin, M. F. Smith, F. E. Ridgeway; recorder, S. H. McMaster; treasurer, W. H. Sanders; justices, J. H. Swan, Reo Morse; constable, George Golden. 1905—President, L. F. Miller; trustees, M. McGlin, M. F. Smith, F. E. Ridgeway; recorder, S. H. McMaster; treasurer, W. H. Sanders; assessor, J. S. Cocks; justices, Joseph Stone, J. J. Nimerfroh; constables, J. J. Nimerfroh, F. D. Richards. 1906—President, F. E. Ridgeway; trustees, Charles Hunt, John Coffitt, George Golden; recorder, S. H. McMaster; treasurer, M. F. Smith; assessor, Burgess Jones; justices, I. S. Swan, Frank Segar; constable, Wilson. 1907—President, S. H. McMaster; trustees, John H. Coffitt, F. E. Ridgeway, Anton Nelson; recorder, J. S. Cocks; treasurer, M. F. Smith; assessor, J. H. Brigger; justices, Frank Segar, M. Wood; constables, C. A. Swanson, John Nimerfroh. 1908—President, S. H. McMaster; trustees, Charles Hunt, F. E. Ridgeway, Louis Schrieber; recorder, M. E. Gillson; treasurer, G. C. Winchell; assessor, H. I. Brigger; justice, E. W. Blettner; constables, C. A. Swanson, John Nimerfroh. For a short time only after incorporation did Kinbrae advance. The federal census of 1900 gave the village a population of 137, which was a loss of 47 since 1896. Another loss was shown in 1905, when the returns gave a population, of 111. This was divided into the following classes: Native born, 43; Minnesota born, 56; born in Germany, 3; Sweden, 7; Norway, 1; other countries, 1. A school and two churches are maintained in Kinbrae. The Presbyterian church, the older organization, was founded January 10, 1890, with thirteen charter members. J. H. Denton and N. H. Smith were the ruling elders. READING. The largest and most important of the unincorporated villages of Nobles county is Reading, located on the diagonal wagon road and the Rock Island railroad, ten miles northwest from Worthington. It is on the southwest quarter of section 24, Summit Lake township, and is nearer the geographical center of Nobles county than any other town-site, its distance from the central point being three miles in a direct line. At Reading is found a community of about a hundred people and the following business houses: Bank, general stores, hardware store, three elevators, two lumber yards, livery stable and blacksmith shop. Early in the year 1872, when Nobles county was receiving its first big immigration, the southwest quarter of section 24, Summit Lake township^ upon which the village of Reading is now located, was filed upon as a homestead claim by Jeremiah Pettus. A contest for the possession of the land was started by Joseph E. Read, who filed for his son, H. H. Read, and in 1873 the papers were secured. Two years later the filing was changed to a preemption. H. H. Read moved upon the land to reside permanently in 1876, and has made that his home ever since. The site of the present town was farmed by Mr. Read until the Burlington road was built through in 1899. That year, after the route had been selected, Thomas H. Brown, the Burlington right-of-way man, bought for townsite purposes 27 1/2 acres of the southwest quarter of 24 from Mr. Read; five acres in 23 from the same gentleman; and 20 acres from George D. Dayton in 23. The site was selected in October, 1899. It was announced that it was not the intention of the townsite company to build much of a town at the first station, but that the principal towns would be built further out. [17] The track was laid to the site of the town early in December and the station was named Reading, in honor of H. H. Read, the pioneer settler. [18] The first train out took with it A. J. Keller, of Emmetsburg, Iowa, who became the station agent. A tool house was taken to the site on a flat car, and until a depot was constructed, served in that capacity. Notwithstanding the determination to limit the business houses of the new town, there were very soon quite a number on the site. So soon as the track was built that far, although the survey of the townsite had not been made, a number of locations were secured for business enterprises. H. N. Douglas and the D. Rothchild Grain company selected sites for elevators by tossing a coin for choice of location. James S. Ramage was given a location for a coal and lumber yard and had stock on cars at Worthington ready to be taken out at the first opportunity. Although it was in the middle of winter, quite a number erected buildings, and before the opening of spring engaged in business. Stock yards and a depot were erected at once. H. N. Douglas and the Rothchild Grain company bought grain during the winter, loading direct from the wagons into the cars. Woodworth & Jones erected the first business house and engaged in the hardware business. A. N. Cheney erected a building and opened a general store in February. H. N. Douglas put up his elevator during the winter and erected a six room house, which was occupied by his grain buyer, Alex Thompson, and family—the first family to locate in the new town. James S. Ramage erected a lumber shed and a house. A. B. French, of Cedar Rapids, started a blacksmith shop and opened a restaurant in the second story of the Cheney store building. Building operations were continued during the early spring of 1900. A. R. Beilke moved a small house over from Rushmore in February, and a little later erected a building and opened the second general store. The Rothchild elevator was erected that spring. The postoffice was established in March with A. N. Cheney in charge. [19] In May the Summit Lake Presbyterian church, which had been organized October 4, 1893, was moved, in from the country, and the school building was brought to the village that fall. The townsite was surveyed by M. S. Smith in June, 1900, for Thomas H. Brown. The dedication was made June 16 and the instrument was filed June 21. In the fall of 1901 First addition was platted by Mr. Brown. Several new business enterprises have been established in Reading since the founding of the town, and, although it has not yet grown to a size that would warrant its incorporation, it is a prosperous little community. TELEPHONE COMPANY. One of the best known corporations of Reading is the Farmers' Mutual Telephone company, incorporated January 2, 1905, with an authorized capital of $25,000 and with $9,000 paid in. The line is 150 miles in length and includes on its line the towns of Reading, Rushmore, Wilmont and Fulda. The officers are Frank Baker, president; J. B. Ludlow, vice president; R. J. Jones, secretary; W. F. Moss, treasurer. The company has three hundred subscribers. BANK. The State Bank of Reading was opened August 2, 1902, with a capital stock of $10,000 and the following officers and directors: Robert J. Jones, president; Ned Jones, vice president; A. N. Cheney, cashier; N. B. Cheney, Edwin Brickson. SAINT KILIAN. On the northwest quarter of section 27, Willmont township, three and one-half miles northwest of Wilmont village, is the little inland village of St. Kilian. In the town is one general store, conducted on the co-operative plan, a Catholic church and school and a number of residences. For the size of the place St. Kilian is one of the strongest church towns of the country. The church building is an exceptionally fine one and the organization has a large membership. Almost the entire population of St. Kilian is made up of retired or active German farmers and their families. Willmont township was settled almost entirely by German Catholic farmers. In the early days these settlers were far from the church of their profession, but in the late eighties their numbers had grown until it was believed that a church could be supported. About forty members of the faith formed an organization and authorized Father C. J. Knauf, of Adrian, to buy a forty acre tract of land (the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 27) for church purposes. Late in the year 1887 steps were taken to raise money for the erection of a church thereon. [20] Succeeding in this, they erected a building of which the dimensions were 32x48 feet. Father Knauf supplied the pulpit about two years, and was succeeded by Father Gratz. About two years after this church was built, John Mock opened a general store on the site and a little later quite a village sprang up there. A postoffice was established with Mr. Mock in charge, Andrew Pacholl opened a blacksmith shop, John Meyer started a second general store, Hub Pass engaged in the saloon business, and later Joseph Budde opened the second saloon. The town of St. Kilian, named after the church, became a flourishing little inland trading point, and predictions of future greatness were freely made. It seemed certain that some day there would be a good sized town in northwestern Nobles county, and St. Kilian believed that it was to be the town. When it became known that the Burlington railroad was to extend and surveyors appeared in the vicinity in 1899, certain it was that St. Kilian's day had arrived. But the building of the road proved the death of St. Kilian's prospects for future greatness. The town was passed by, and the railroad people founded, nearby, the town of Wilmont. After that there was general decline. Some of the business houses were moved to the railroad town; others were closed; and today the only business enterprise left in the village is a store. The post-office was maintained until March, 1907. Then it was discontinued, and since that date the people of the village have received their mail by rural route from Wilmont. The St. Kilian townsite was surveyed by M. S. Smith for Father C. J. Knauf October 5 to 7, 1891. The plat was dedicated October 27 and was filed December 10, of the same year. Some ten years after the building of the church the edifice was burned. The congregation then erected the school building, and for one year church services were held therein. The present handsome and substantial church building was then erected. The Church of St. Kilian was incorporated February 27, 1896, by Joseph B. Cotter, bishop of the diocese of Winona; Peter Pernin, vicar general of the same diocese; A. Hechenberger, pastor; and Charles Fritz and Balthaser Heck, lay members. LEOTA. In the extreme northwestern corner of Nobles county, in the center of a prosperous settlement of Hollanders, is the little inland village of Leota, with a population of about 100 people. The platted town is on sections 5 and 8, of Leota township. The village consists of two churches, a general store, postoffice, harness shop, blacksmith shop and a number of residences. It was during the year 1891 that Leota was founded. The first building on the site was the Dutch Reformed church, erected by the vanguard of Dutch settlers. In the fall of 1891 John and Nick DeBoer and James TenCate erected a second building and established a store, which they have ever since conducted. [21] The postoffice was established in the fall of 1893, with James TenCate as postmaster. With the exception of one year (1907-1908) when the office was discontinued he has ever since served in that capacity. Herman Hulstof started a blacksmith shop im 1892. The Christian Reformed church was erected in 1898. The same year Jake Kooiman opened an implement house, which he conducted three years. The business was then purchased by Mr. DeGraff, who managed it until his death in 1905. A harness shop was started by John Wassen in February, 1900. The Leota townsite was surveyed by M. S. Smith for James TenCate. It was dedicated January 1, 1902. ORG. Org, the last Nobles county village we are to consider, is unique in many ways. It is the smallest community in the county that could be designated a village; it is said to occupy the highest point of land in Minnesota; it has had more names bestowed upon it than any other Nobles county community; and no one knows why it was burdened with the one it now owns. Org is located on the northwest quarter of section 4, Bigelow township, three and one-half miles southwest from Worthington, and at the junction point of the Sioux Falls branch with the main line of the Omaha road. When the Worthington & Sioux Falls railroad was built in 1876 it left the main line at the top of the grade where Org is now located. It seems to have been the intention of the railroad officials to name this point Iselin, [22] but when the running of trains was begun it was designated as Sioux Falls Junction. [23] A section house was put up there, and for ten years was the only thing on the site. Not until 1886 was an effort made to make any improvement there. In the spring of that year N. A. Call, a farmer and hay shipper, decided to locate there and make it a point of shipment for his hay. [24] The railroad company put in a Y that spring, and in the fall erected a depot. H. Sinclair was installed as operator and agent in November but was succeeded the following month by W. H. Vorhees. Mr. Call put up a large warehouse, and for several years was a large patron of the road. But after these improvements had been made Sioux Falls Junction remained quiescent for thirteen years. The only change during these years was in the name, which became Org in 1890. [25] In 1899 another attempt to boom the Junction was made, this time with better success. In July Caroline A. Forbes had the townsite platted, and that fall some improvements were made. An elevator was erected and James S. Ramage and the Tuthill Lumber company each put up buildings and engaged in the lumber and coal business. Charles King started a general store and became postmaster of an office established soon after he began business. Since that event there has been no improvement in this smallest of Nobles county's villages. For reasons best known to itself the Omaha railroad has erected a sign board, upon which is the word "Trent," a few feet beyond the junction point, on the branch side. Trent has been duly incorporated in the timetables and is a station. The most interesting thing about it is the origin of the name. Here is what the Northwestern railroad in its "Origin of the Place Names" says of Trent: There is a dispute as to the origin of the name that was selected for this place. One faction asserts that it was named for Trent in the Italian Tyrol of Austria-Hungary, where was held the famous Council of Ghent in 1545-63 and that fixed many religious tenets. The other faction claims that the name was taken from the river Trent in England. ENDNOTES [1] To the original plat have been added the following additions: School—Surveyed for F. D. Lindquist and H. A. Scherlie; dedicated September 5, 1898. Lindquist's Subdivision—Surveyed for F. D. Lindquist, B. N. Bodelson and H. A. Scherlie; dedicated June 14, 1898; filed June 20, 1898. Johnson's Subdivision—Surveyed September 21, 1898, for John Johnson; dedicated Oct. 22, 1898; filed Oct. 25, 1898. Park—Surveyed Oct. 23 and 24, 1899, for H. A. Scherlie; dedicated Sept. 12, 1900; filed Dec. 31, 1904. [2] "Warren will no doubt be a rival of Airlie, as they are but one and one-third miles from each other, but with the advantage of scenery, etc., Airlie will certainly outstrip her in the race. Hope they will both prosper."—B. W. Woolstencroft in Worthington Advance, Aug. 21, 1879. [3] "The railroad company has just completed a better depot and cottage at this point than there is on the main line between St. Paul and Sioux City"—Correspondent to Worthington Advance, Nov. 6, 1879. [4] The petitioners were F. D. Lindquist, J. H. Johnson, John B. Moore, George B, Miller, Charles Trumbull, W. S. Miller, O. E. Randall, J. D. Brawand, W. P. Jones, C. W. Aldrich, B. N. Scherlie, B. N. Bodelson, J. F. Burris, H. V. Gallagher, W. H. Lindquist, W. W. Kane, F. A. Ross, A. R. Schmidt, Henry D. Johns, S. Rupp, Swan Erickson, E. H. Sammons, W. G. Clark, R. F. Laythe, Gottlieb Wahl, O. A. Nesset, W. R. Fields, M. J. Estey, C. L. Bork, C. S. Fuller, J. Wahl, C. P. Swanson, R. H. Sammons, A. Berglund, H. C. Moshka, E. S. Humble, Elias Swenson, A. P. Smithburg, L. D. Randall, P. H. Randall, C. A. Gallagher, C. M. Thomas, J. W. Schield, Fred W. Leistico and Oscar Hawkins. [5] "The new town on the Burlington north of Adrian has at last been definitely located on the southwest quarter of section 1, Lismore township. This week T. H. Brown, the agent of the company, closed the deal for this land, and has located the depot. The site for the new town, will be surveyed at once."— Nobles County Democrat, March 30, 1900. [6] Five additions have been platted since the original site was surveyed, as follows: First—Surveyed for Thomas H. Brown; dedicated July 23, 1901; filed July 29, 1901. Graves'—Surveyed for Thomas H. Brown; dedicated June 7, 1902; filed June 14, 1902. Graves' Second—Surveyed for Thomas H. Brown; dedicated Nov. 22, 1902; filed Nov. 26, 1902. Thompson's—Surveyed for Albert A. Thompson; dedicated May 27, 1903; filed May, 27, 1903. Graves' South Side—Surveyed for Mark Graves; dedicated April 16, 1902; filed April 16, 1906. [7] Those who petitioned for incorporation were C. N. Sawyer, Emil Graf, George A. Eychaner, Oscar C. Olson, H. J. Schneider, Henry Holton, William Finley, O. B. Bratager, S. A. Crosley, F. G. McVener, H. J. Kundel, F. J. Forkenbrock, Ludwig Johnson, John G. Van Rossum, Dirk D. Roelofs, John D. Roelofs, Charles Wynia, A. C. Graf, Jacob Hendel, Nick Wester, Fred Zeh, George Pope, John Duel, M. Johnson, Theodore Walenting, C. J. Hanning, H. C. Frerich, Gerhart Kirkeby, A. T. Halverson, Philip Hendel, Will Wallace, F. Hennekes, Hans Erickson and Albert Halverson. [8] Nearly all the elections have been hotly-contested affairs, and the vote between the two tickets has often been close. [9] There were three candidates for president of the council. William Tentler and O. B. Bratager were tied, and the former was chosen by lot. [10] "Airlie. This flourishing, rapidly growing town on the Southern Minnesota railroad, situated on section 11, Graham Lakes, only one and one-half miles from Dundee, is to that place what Minneapolis is to St. Paul. The numerous and substantial improvements that are in course of construction here are attracting the attention of business men all over the country. Its location is one of unusual beauty, being on the high rolling banks of charming Clear lake." — Correspondent Worthington Advance, Nov. 6, 1879. [11] The acknowledgment of the dedication was made by Messrs. Paton and Dumont before J. C. French, a notary public of New York. Messrs. Lowson and Mackenzie made acknowledgment before Matthew McDougall, consul of the United States at Dundee, Scotland. [12] South addition to DeForest townsite was surveyed by B. W. Woolstencroft for John Paton, William Lowson and William Mackenzie; was dedicated July 31, 1888; and was filed August 20, 1888. [13] "There are a half dozen letters at the Worthington postoffice written from as many different places, addressed to Kimbrea and Kimbar, Nobles county. Charles Pardoe informs us that there is no such postoffice in the United States. How these letters could come from so many widely separated points, some from men and some from women, and all be addressed to Kimbrea. or Kimbar, this county, is one of the mysteries. 'Suthin's goin' to happen.' "—Worthington Advance, Aug. 16, 1883. "We last week noticed the fact that there were a number of letters at the Worthington postoffice addressed to Kimbrae, Nobles county, and that there was no such postoffice in the county. We have since had the mystery explained. The Milwaukee railroad company has changed the name of DeForest station to Kinbrea, but the name of the town and post- office remains the same."—Worthington Advance, Aug. 23, 1883. [14] A corrected plat was surveyed by Mr. Smith for the village of Kinbrae and was dedicated in 1903. [15] The petitioners were A. E. Holmberg, Ole Anderson, Nels Holm, N. W. Nelson, Ole Luft, Charles Hamstreet, Burgess Jones, Joseph Hendy, K. C. Jackson, Fred L. Day, E. Jeffreys, T. H. Cole, Jan Janda, L. T. Dow, T. E. Joubert, Solomon Johnson, F. Segar, T. E. Cole, H. Poston, J. A. Salomonson, P. J. Fredrickson, S. Heldin, Albert Suess, Olof Nilson, E, L. Cochran, T. J. Larkin, F. F. Winkler, C. M. Thomas, F. F. Richards, E. H. Albright, H. Erie, James Hause, L. F. Miller, E. J. Clark and Joseph Stone. [16] At the election of 1899 for license received 29 votes and against license 8 votes. [17] "A location for another town has been selected for a station on the Burlington extension, near H. H. Read's in Summit Lake township, twelve acres of ground being purchased for this purpose. It is claimed that it is not the intention or expected that much of a town will be built here, but just a stopping place for trains for the accommodation of passengers. . . . The company will not refuse to permit the erection of an elevator, and this being the case, there will probably be a store and a postoffice and a paper. . . . It is reported the new town will be named Diagonal and will be located on the southwest quarter of section 24, Summit Lake."—Worthington Advance, Oct. 20, 1899. [18] Readville, Readburg, Diagonal and other names had been proposed. [l9] Reading's postmasters have been A. N. Cheney, appointed March, 1900; W. H. Eikenberry, February, 1903; R. J. Jones, February, 1904; A. R. Beilke, February 25, 1907. [20] "We learn that there is a movement on foot to build a Catholic church in Willmont, on section 27, where the congregation holds forty acres. Father Knauf, of Adrian, was here on Sunday last and took a number of subscriptions for the new church. About half the amount has been subscribed."—Worthington Advance, Dec. 15, 1887. [21] The old store building burned down May 1, 1898, but was immediately rebuilt. [22] "This place was originally called Iselin and was named for Adrian C. Iselin, a banker of New York city, who owned much land in the vicinity."—Origin of Place Names, Northwestern Railroad. [23] Also sometimes referred to locally as "The Summit." [24] "In short, Mr. Call and his neighbors around the summit expect before long to have a station, with telegraph office and all other facilities, at the junction, to be followed by a postoffice and a thriving village in due time. The summit has long been thought of as a point for a station and village, and its realization has been considered only, a matter of time. It seems now about to be realized."— Worthington Advance, May 20, 1886. [25] "In 1890 the name was changed to Org by W. A. Scott, the then general manager of the railroad. No one now living knows why he so named the place, where he got the name or what it means, if it means anything. A legend connects it with 'org' (dorg), bad slang for the word dog."—Origin of Place Names, Northwestern Railroad. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/history/1908/anillust/chapterx29gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 41.6 Kb